Aftershocks cause fresh panic in northern Italy

By
Euronews

Strong aftershocks have continued to cause damage and frighten residents in northern Italy after Sunday morning’s earthquake which killed at least seven people.

The epicentre was near the town Modena in the Po valley. Locals refused to return to their homes in the towns of Sant’ Agostino and San Felice as further tremors sowed fresh panic.

Dozens of historc buildings have been destroyed including a mediaevel castle and numerous churches. But for now the priority is to account for the missing and to try to find any survivors beneath the rubble.

Up to 3,000 people have been left homeless by the quake which at magnitude six was Italy’s strongest in three years. Most are having to be put up in temporary shelters while the European Union has offered aid. The Italian government is to declare a state of emergency